"So… can I stay with you, please, Teo?" he asked hopefully. "Can you please help me talk to Mark? Tell him you're the one who insisted I stay with you."
Matteo narrowed his eyes immediately. "Why?"
Maxwell groaned dramatically, rolling his eyes. "Mom wants me to stay with Mark, but I don't want to stay with him."
Matteo let out the long, weary sigh of an older brother who had seen this behavior countless times. "If Mom told you to stay with Mark, then that's exactly what you're going to do."
"No, Teo, please!" Maxwell pleaded, giving him the most pitiful puppy-dog eyes he could manage.
Matteo remained completely unmoved. "No."
Beside him, Adrian quietly reached under the table and gave Matteo's thigh a gentle pinch.
Matteo flinched and turned to look at him.
Adrian met his gaze with soft, pleading eyes, silently asking him to let Maxwell stay.
Matteo held his gaze for a long moment before letting out a defeated sigh. "Fine. Let's eat. You literally just got back—"
